Archive · 22 Aug 2025
Sandwich Leave Policy: Why Indians Dislike This Work Practice
Imagine you want a long weekend off.
Some Indian companies have a rule called "sandwich leave."
If you take Friday and Monday off, they might count Saturday and Sunday as part of your leave, so you lose more days.
Different types of leaves exist, like regular vacation time (Privilege/Earned Leave), short emergency leaves (Casual Leave), and sick days (Sick Leave).
Maternity and paternity leave are longer, and how much you get depends on the company.
Sandwich leaves are an unwritten rule in some Indian companies where taking leave before and after a weekend results in more days of leave being deducted.
Privilege/Earned leaves allow employees vacation time, with no pay loss, and can be encashed upon exit.
Casual leaves are for short-term personal or medical emergencies.
Sick leaves are for illness, not pre-planned events.
Maternity/Paternity leaves are the longest leaves granted, with durations varying by company policy.
- Who
- Employees in some Indian companies are affected by the sandwich leave policy.
- What
- Sandwich leaves are a company policy that deducts additional leave days when an employee takes leave before and after a weekend or public holiday.
- When
- Information is based on an article from August 22, 2025.
- Where
- The policy is discussed in the context of Indian companies.
- Why
- Sandwich leaves discourage employees from taking extended time off by penalizing them for doing so.
Employee Perspective
Employer Perspective
Fairness
Employee Perspective
Sandwich leave is perceived as unfair, unethical, and a way to discourage employees from taking needed time off.
Employer Perspective
N/A
- Sandwich Leave Definition
- Additional leave days deducted when taking leave before and after a weekend/holiday.
- Privilege/Earned Leave Purpose
- Vacations and extended time off.
- Casual Leave Purpose
- Short-term personal or medical emergencies.
- Sick Leave Purpose
- Days of sickness.
- Maternity Leave
- 12-26 weeks (Varies by company).
- Paternity Leave
- 1-2 weeks (Varies by company).